An open letter to Emily Thomas and the art community

An online journal about visual art, the urban landscape and design. Mary Louise Schumacher, the Journal Sentinel's art and architecture critic, leads the discussion and a community of writers contribute to the dialogue.

Much of our art community is talking about a woman named Emily Thomas and her blog post. This column began as an open letter to her and became a rebuke to the art community.

Thomas recently made a trip with her daughters to the Milwaukee Art Museum where she saw a few things she liked but found much of the art to be lewd and lame, according to an entry in her family blog. It was a Wednesday, a free day for Milwaukee County residents, and she was “sooo glad” she didn’t pay to get in.

“I’m sorry, but words cannot express just how much I loathe this ‘exhibit,’.” she wrote of Ellsworth Kelly’s “Red, Yellow, Blue II.” »Read Full Blog Post

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Art isn’t always beautiful, isn’t always “clean”, and doesn’t always appear to have required a great deal of talent, skill or time. But all of the pieces mentioned in this column engendered a response. This mother gave those kids a remarkable experience. The fact that she and the kids didn’t like everything they viewed, doesn’t mean that she is wrong however. I can appreciate all of it, but I certainly have viewed works of art that I simply didn’t like. I have had several art history classes. I don’t believe I am required to gush over all of it. I also think the "intellectual vs. plebian attitude is appropriate. You don't need to have had any art appreciation or history classes to enjoy it. You just need to open the door. This woman did. Bravo Mrs. Thomas for taking your kids! Bravo for your honest response.

YOUR SUNDAY MARCH 8 COLUMN WAS OUTSTANDING!"What’s so disturbing is what Emily Thomas represents: a world of people who don’t connect. Why that is and who’s to blame — these are big questions." Yes, they are big questions, and suggest to me that maybe the world is moving too fast?Maybe if people were encourage to read more, and artists were willing to reveal themeslves by commenting on what motivated them to a specific execution, there might be some transparency and more understanding.The Music Lesson by Kathryn Weber, The Girl with The Pearl Earring by Tracy Chevalier, The Madonnas of Leningrad by Debra Dean, Tess of the D'urbervilles by Thomas Hardy (and other classics) provide insights that might prepare exhibit viewers to slow down and smell the roses.

We need to keep educating. This has been a great discussion and pretty enlightening...or some would say it just confirmed some of our private thoughts. Milwaukee isn't alone in this. Views on art are unenlightened world wide. Milwaukee has grown in the past decade and I hope it continues. Sometimes I feel it is so far behind when I look at other art destinations. But there has been a great deal of promise unfolding. Art City has offered us a great deal of opportunity to think and debate. Hopefully we will become more active in our actions to continue growth. One of my favorite sayings by James Carse ..."Art is not art except as it leads to an engendering creativity in its beholders"

How, EXACTLY, did this mother not allow her children to think outside of their comfort zones? They went to the museum, they saw stuff that they didn't like, they voiced that opinion, and the mother said, "don't look at it." In essence, if you don't like something, don't look at it. She had three children with her. How is she supposed to stop and have an intellectual conversation about a painting that none of them find interesting? With three children of varying ages? Disservice!? I think her taking three children to an art museum is quite the feat.

the fact that emily closed off her blog to the public AFTER she wrote about her museum visit makes me wonder...if you make a statement and you stand behind your convictions, why close your blog off to the public? i'm not saying she had second thoughts about what she wrote or felt. i'm saying that i make comments, observations and analysis every day on my blog. and my blog stays up and open to the public because i stand behind my viewpoints, regardless how they're perceived by the public.

NOW i could never say, 'i applaud emily for stating her opinion publicly'. it's could she closed her blog to invited people only. she obviously feels her opinion isn't worth that much.

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